Good afternoon all!
I am a new member. Losing my virginity with this post. I hope it is the first of many.
I'll cut to the chase..
Done a lot of research and have brought myself up to speed as best as I can on the older diesel's out there in hopes of getting one. The time may have come. I have found a reasonably priced 85 300td for sale in my area on good old craigslist here is a link

1985 Mercedes 300 TD - $1000 (Flint Hill, VA)

I have spoken with the gentleman who is selling it several times now and he assures me he has all maintenance records going back 15 some odd years ago when he purchased the car. When he purchased the car it had 150k on it. It now has somewhere around the 335k mark. His listing states that the motor has "low compression" however after speaking with the seller he states that the vehicle is hard to start. The hard to start is the sole reason he believes the vehicle has low compression. I asked him if he had ever had the valves adjusted and he says 'not to his knowledge." Also the car has been sitting for around a year. It was taken off the road after he purchased a new vehicle. He does state that other than the hard starting the car ran and drove great before he took it off the road.

Im going out to look at and drive the car later today and was hoping I could get some advise on areas to look at and check to ensure this vehicle is a good buy.
As I said, ive done my homework and have even read the Mercedes Diesel Buyer's Survival Guide that is available through **************.com

If the car is a runner with little blow by and a solid body with little to no rust through, even if she is hard to start..if she shifts smooth and feels in overall good shape. ...if I can scoop it up for around what the seller is asking do you guys think this is a good buy? My plans for the car would be to tune it up and use a daily driver.
thanks so much in advance.